Madame Satã

Directed by	Karim Aïnouz
Produced by	Marc Beauchamps Isabel Diegues Vincent Maraval Mauricio Andrade Ramos Donald Ranvaud Juliette Renaud Walter Salles
Written by	Karim Ainouz Marcelo Gomes Sérgio Machado Mauricio Zacharias
Starring	Lázaro Ramos
Music by	Sacha Amback Marcos Suzano
Cinematography	Walter Carvalho
Editing by	Isabela Monteiro de Castro
Distributed by	Wellspring Media (USA)
Release date(s)	May 19, 2002
Running time	105 minutes
Country	France Brazil
Language	Portuguese

A story inspired by the life of one of the most remarkable figures in Brazilian popular culture, João Francisco dos Santos (1900-1976). In turn, bandit, transvestite, street fighter, brothel cook, convict and father to seven adopted children, dos Santos--better known as Madame Satã--was also a notorious gay performer who pushed social boundaries in a volatile time. The story begins in 1932, in Rio de Janeiro's bohemian Lapa district, when João Francisco is about to achieve his dream: becoming a stage star. In the sordid yet lively world of Lapa--populated by pimps, prostitutes and other denizens of Rio's underworld--João battles the streets and presides over a surrogate family that includes the charming prostitute Laurita, and her baby daughter whom everyone dotes on; the flamboyant hustler Taboo; João's teenage lover, Renatinho; and Amador, the owner of the Blue Danube club which is their second home.